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2.1 List description for premises not in urban areas:

• Wedding venue and premises or
• Function venue and premises or
• Wedding and function venue and premises
• Primary description code: CX
• Scat code:075, suffix S

2.2 List description for premises in urban areas:

• Venue hire premises or
• Function suite or
• Banqueting hall and premises or
• Wedding venue and premises or
• Function rooms and premises
• Scat code: 225, suffix G

3.1 This class of property is the responsibility of the National Valuation Unit except for most of the urban venue hire premises (including banqueting suites used for weddings) with a scat code of 225G which are the responsibility of the Regional Valuation Units or the Central Valuation Team.

4.1 The Historic Properties Class Co-ordination team (CCT) has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of this class. The team are responsible for the approach to and accuracy and consistency of valuations. The team will deliver a Practice Note describing the valuation basis forrevaluationand provide advice as necessary during the life of the rating lists. Caseworkers, property inspectors and researchers have a responsibility to:

• follow the advice given at all times.
• not depart from the guidance given on appeals or maintenance work, without approval from the CCT
• seek advice from the CCT before starting on any new work

5.1 Statutory background

5.2 Some properties in this class are occupied in conjunction with residential accommodation. The circumstances where they may fall wholly within the definition of domestic property (LGFA 1988 section 66) will be rare and such properties will invariably be rateable as composite hereditaments.

5.3 Where there is short-stay accommodation, which includes hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments, it will be rateable by virtue of Section 66(2) Local Government Finance Act 1988 [LGFA 1988].

5.4 Composite properties

5.5 Where civil weddings take place the existence of a licence would be firm evidence of non-domestic use and is unlikely in most circumstances to be de minimis. It is likely corporate use would also, in most situations, be more than de minimis. Whilst each case must be determined on its own merits, in deciding whether the use of a domestic property for non-domestic purposes is material, the VO will need to have regard to the effect of the extent, frequency and intensity of the non-domestic use and to any modifications made to the property to accommodate that use.

5.6 Thehereditamentwill be a composite one unless the circumstances of occupation suggest that it is wholly non-domestic. Regard should be had toRating Manual: Section 2 Valuation Principles Part 5: Domestic and Non Domestic Borderline.

5.7 Self-catering accommodation

5.8 The statutory background to the rateability of self-contained self-catering accommodation applies equally to those used in conjunction with wedding venues. The background to this is itemised in detail in theRating Manual: Section 5a: Valuation of all property classes: Holiday accommodation (self-catering) Part 5 Legal Framework.

5.9 Civil licence

5.10 The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005 and the subsequent Amendment Regulations are regulated by local authorities and allow marriages to take place in a variety of premises including hotels, stately homes, civic halls, and similar premises. The grant of approval will be valid for a minimum of 3 years.

5.11 The Registrar General provides guidance on the approval of premises as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships which can be found on the gov.uk website.

5.12 The premises must be readily identifiable and comprise permanent immovable structures which preclude marriages from taking place in a tent, marquee or any other temporary structure and in most forms of transport. In considering premises for approval, thelocal authoritywill have regard to their primary use, situation, construction and state of repair. The authority must consider the premises to be a seemly and dignified venue for the solemnisation of marriages or the formation of civil partnerships. The premises must be regularly available to the public for marriage ceremonies.

5.13 The room(s) in which ceremonies of marriage will be solemnised must be identifiable by description as a distinct part of the premises and be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the ceremony. Many local authorities require there

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